Counter-rotating surfacing marine drive

A marine drive 10 having two counter-rotating surface operating propeller shafts 156,158 comprises a one-piece integrally cast housing 20 having a vertical bore 26 extending between upper and lower spaced horizontal bores 22,24. An upper adaptor spool 48 has a lower threaded outer portion 50 mating with a threaded portion 46 of the vertical bore 26 of the drive housing 20 and supporting an upper gear 42 for rotation about a driveshaft 36 and supporting the driveshaft 36 for rotation within the adaptor spool 48. The vertical distance between the adaptor spool 48 and a lower bearing 118 supporting the vertical driveshaft 36 is about equal to propeller radius. The lower concentric counter-rotating propeller shafts 156, 158 are spaced from an upper input shaft 28 by a distance along the driveshaft 36 in the range of about 9 to 15 inches.